05/12/2026
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A Silent Crisis & A Golden Opportunity
Protecting the Heartbeat of Our Oceans
Dear Friends of the Ocean,
I am writing to you from the shores of Kauai with a heart full of both wonder and urgency. Just days ago, at Secrets Beach, I witnessed something extraordinary: a rare, orange-hued Cownose Manta Ray with roughly a twelve-foot wingspan, gliding effortlessly in the middle of a massive pod of spinning, leaping dolphins. A giant sea turtle drifted nearby in the clear turquoise water. It was a vivid reminder of the vibrant, interconnected world that lives just beneath the surface of the ocean—a world that depends entirely on a quiet ocean to survive.
Even if you have never stood on a Hawaiian shore, you are connected to this ocean world. Every other breath we take, and many of the foods we eat, come from these waters. In order to protect this majesty of nature...
Soon we will be crossing the ocean, headed to Paris!
As we began preparing for a pivotal International Plenary conference, held in Paris, France, a dear friend and dedicated supporter, Debra Blachowiak, shared a letter she recently wrote to her inner circle. Her words moved me so deeply that I asked her permission to share them with you.
Her passionate letter (below) beautifully expresses the full impact and importance of our committee being able to attend this upcoming Plenary.
We are at a crossroads. The decisions made in Paris this June will profoundly effect the acoustic future of our oceans for generations to come.
Message from Debra:
"I hope this letter finds you well!
Living here in Hawaii, we share a connection to the sea that is more than just scenic; it is spiritual. We know the ocean is a living, breathing lung for our planet providing 50% of our oxygen.
I am writing because I recently committed $10,000 to The Quiet Ocean Standards Initiative. I did this because I discovered a silent, devastating crisis that most of the world is completely unaware of.
The Threat: A "Smart Ocean" That Isn't Smart for Life
Right now, global tech industries are pushing for an "all-acoustic" (loud) underwater internet. To save the cost of laying silent fiber-optic cables, they intend to use massive arrays of sound-transmitting devices to send data through the water.
For the whales, dolphins, and sea life that rely on sound to "see," navigate, and communicate, this isn't just noise—it is a wall of sound that can be fatal. In some cases, the decibel levels are high enough to pose a physical risk to human swimmers and divers' delicate eardrums. Unlike shipping noise, which marine mammals and sea creatures can sometimes dive beneath, this technology would saturate the entire water column. There will be nowhere left for them escape to.
The Solution: Our Seat at the Table
We are not helpless. Kathy Matara has risen to the position of Convenor (leader) of an International Joint Working Group (JWG 32) which combines underwater network experts with marine biologists.
This is the first time environmentally oriented marine experts are in a position to influence underwater technologies. Kathy is leading this team of world renowned scientists to set "Bio-Friendly" underwater communication standards.
In Paris this June, her team will present their newly completed, landmark Technical Report "Environmental and Ecological Risks and Considerations of Underwater Acoustic Signaling" and initiate a new International Standard "Guidelines and Requirements for Bio-Friendly Underwater Communications" that mandates safe, quiet alternatives—like fiber optics—instead of destructive acoustic signaling.
My Invitation to You This June meeting is the "finish line" for years of advocacy. If we aren't in that room, the industry's loud, cheap technology will become the global standard by default.
I am looking for partners to join me by matching my $10,000 contribution.
This is more than a donation; it is an investment in a Legacy of Silence. By supporting this initiative, you are ensuring that when your children and grandchildren dive into the Ocean decades from now, they will still hear the song of the humpback whale, not the roar of a data network. (listen to the data sounds of the current proposed acoustic ocean network here)
Your tax-deductible gift will go directly toward the travel and technical operations required to get our experts to Paris and to fight for these protections.
We have the science. We have the leadership. We just need the fuel to get across the ocean....
With Warmth & Gratitude,
Debra
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To meet our immediate goal of $50,000 for the Paris Plenary, we are looking for four "Ocean Guardians" to match Debra’s gift.
Whether you can join us at that level or provide a gift of any size, your contribution today is the bridge that gets our team to the negotiation table so that safe, ethical, BioFriendly mandates can be the guidelines and Standards for ocean communications.
Return on Donation Investment:
International Standards have a powerful reach and provide worldwide guidance. Our Bio-Friendly Standards are designed for maximum leverage; once finalized, they serve as the definitive global blueprint for every major industry—from deep-sea mining and global shipping to military operations.
By contributing to these foundational documents today, you aren't just making a donation—you are securing a permanent, compounding return on your investment. Your contribution scales across centuries.
You are funding the 'quiet infrastructure' that will protect marine life for millennia, ensuring a resilient, sustainable ocean and a safer world.
Donate to the Quiet Ocean Standards Initiative at safesmartocean.org
Thank you for contributing to the "voice" for ocean creatures who cannot speak.
Thank you for protecting the peaceful silence that is the oceans natural state.
Please reach out to me with your questions or suggestions:
(808) 320 7636 / [email protected]
With Aloha,
Kathy Matara
Founder & CEO
The Quiet Ocean Standards Initiative
Convenor - JTC1 IEC/ISO SC41 JWG 32
SafeSmartOcean.org
